ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday wherein the PM upcoming visit of the USA especially deliberated upon.
According to sources, the meet-up was held at the prime minister house wherein the premier and Army chief discussed external and internal security situation of the country including professional matters of Pakistan army.
Besides, matters related to the PM upcoming visit to America also came under discussion.
It may be noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan will embark US visit on July 21 for three days official visit where PM will hold meeting with US President on July 22.
Both leaders will have one on one and delegation level meetings. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Sohail Mehmood and US Foreign Secretary Mike Pompeo would be part of meeting.
PM’s meeting with other office bearers and stockholders is being scheduled. Sources said the meeting would discuss Pak-US relations, Afghan peace process and Pakistan’s support for Taliban dialogue.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will use a small aircraft of Pakistan Airforce instead of Pakistan International Airline’s plane for his upcoming visit to the United States.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan during a media talk in Karachi. The prime ministers of previous governments used to fly in PIA’s planes for their foreign trips which incurred losses to the national carrier, Khan said.
The PM’s US visit would be the first summit-level engagement between Pakistan and the United States since both leaders assumed their respective offices.
During his various engagements in Washington, the prime minister will outline his vision of “Naya Pakistan” and underscore the importance Pakistan attaches to a broader and multi-faceted relationship with the United States.
In the regional context, the premier will underscore Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability and the importance of constructive engagement to promote a political solution in Afghanistan.
He will also highlight Pakistan’s policy of ‘peaceful neighbourhood’ aimed at resolving disputes through dialogue and promoting the vision of peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia and beyond.
Meanwhile, The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) will host Prime Minister Imran Khan on July 23 during his US visit.
In a post on its website, USIP described Prime Minister Imran Khan’s first meeting with US President Donald Trump as a crucial step in finding ways to rebuild bilateral relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, United States Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus has welcomed the initiative of the Kartarpur Corridor between Pakistan and India for facilitating Sikh pilgrims.
Ortagus, while responding to a journalist who asked U.S. comments on the Kartarpur Corridor between Pakistan and India, stated that it ‘was certainly a good news report’.
In a recent press briefing, she added anything that increases people-to-people interaction between Pakistan and India “is something the US incredibly supports.”
She mentioned that Prime Minister Imran Khan has been scheduled to visit the White House, and talks in detail would be held with him.
During the routine press briefing, a female Afghan journalist asked a question against Pakistan, but left the conference hall upon getting an unpleased reply from the spokesperson.
She added that the U.S. was the country that took action against the military leadership in Burma, and Myanmar’s army chief and four other generals had played a role in the massacre of Muslims in Rohingya. The U.S. has banned their entry into the country. On Sunday, India and Pakistan narrowed down their differences on Kartarpur corridor and said that they have agreed to the majority of modalities to be finalised for the operational of Sikh pilgrimage passage. Both the sides also agreed to hold another meeting to formally conclude the agreement.
Spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign affairs, Mohammed Faisal said that 80 percent of the agreement has been finalised.
The meeting at Wagha in Pakistan also reviewed the progress reached in the three rounds of a technical meeting held in March, April and May 2019.
The corridor will allow Sikh pilgrims a direct access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur where Guru Nanak passed away in 1537.
Meanwhile, addressing an award distribution ceremony of the Gujranwala Chamber of
Commerce, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that government has decided to launch a special application for tax returns which would bring more people into the tax net.
The prime minister invited the traders’ community and industrialist to work as a team with the government.
“Only 1.5 million pay tax out of the 220 million people in Pakistan. Pakistan can overcome the economic issue if citizens start paying taxes.”
“About 70 per cent out of total tax was being paid by 300 companies alone whereas the ratio of paying taxes in the service and agriculture sectors was dismal,” said PM Khan.
He said that government is making all-out efforts to curb the money laundering and has discussed the issue with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
He vowed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government would make Pakistan a great country, adding that the country cannot be run like it was governed by previous rulers.
The premier said that he doesn’t have any property outside Pakistan like other rulers who laundered money and made properties abroad.
“I was born in Pakistan and will die here, he said adding that Pakistan will move forward and prosper soon. He expressed the confidence that with collective efforts, the incumbent government would surpass the current difficult phase of economy.
Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Shabbar Zaidi on Wednesday reiterated it is compulsory for those to file tax returns, who own a house larger than five hundred square yards or a vehicle over 1000cc.
“The last date for filing tax returns for the year 2018 has been extended till August 2”, Zaidi said in his statement issued here from Islamabad.
Zaidi urged the people to benefit from this opportunity and file their tax returns timely to avoid difficulties. – NNI